KOSEN 한인과학기술자네트워크

Goal

• Providing novel nano-biomaterials to overcome the limitations of conventional tissue engineering scaffolds.
• Fabricating three-dimensional scaffolds and functional tissue regeneration.
• Modulating the nano- / micro-environment via nanofabrication techniques and surface chemistry.

Research

• Imitating the natural microenvironment of neural tissues for functional recovery.
• Developing advanced conceptual novel and smart gene-cell integrated scaffold systems based on electrospun nanofibers.
• Related current ongoing projects are as follows:
  1. 3-dimensional moldable / patterned fibrous scaffolds based on electrospinning
  2. One-step self-assembling multi-layered nanofibrous scaffolds
  3. Innovative gene delivery devices for effective gene expression control and cell selection in neural stem cells
  4. Scaffold-gene-cell complex system capable of controlling activation of neural stem cell utilizing vector releasing nanofibrous structures
  5. Establishment of functional recovery strategy using spinal cord or brain damaged animal models
  6. Other specialized scaffolds with unique characteristics

Goal

• Functional enhancement of human cells for cancer therapy via adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene delivery systems.
• Establishment of multiple strategies to find the cure of cancers based on AAV delivery.

Research

• Utilization of non-pathogenic and one of the safest viral vectors AAV into therapeutic systems for genetically modulating cancer cells and immune systems.
• Development of AAV-based gene delivery systems capable of specifically targeting human immune cells for advanced cancer immunotherapy. Enhanced killing capability or “stemness” is applied to the lymphocytes.
• Development of AAV- and biomaterial-based gene delivery system capable of specifically delivering to human cancer stem cell-like cells as tools for resistant cancer therapy.
  1. Inducing apoptosis of cancer cells by targeted gene delivery using cancer specific promoter
  2. Directed evolution of adeno-associated viral vector for effective gene delivery and gene targeting in cancer cells
  3. Tumor suppressor gene delivery

Goal

• Spatiotemporal control of human stem cell fates or behaviors for inducing the functional tissue regeneration.
• Pre-/clinical trials with human neural stem cell-targeting AAVs (Co-work with pediatric MDs).

Research

• Engineering adeno-associated viral vectors for effective gene delivery and gene targeting in specific stem cells using “directed evolution”.
• Controlling gene delivery by spatial and temporal delivery of polymer complexed “sticky" gene vector systems.
• Developing the synergistic and advanced therapeutics with combinatorial utilization with scaffolding systems and genetically engineered stem cells.
• Establishing human stem cell lines releasing functional factors utilizing AAV.
• Creating protocols approved by IND filing for clinical trial of cells-gene therapy that can be applied to patient with various incurable diseases.